Perseid meteor shower shines through bright moon

A look at the Perseid meteor shower images captured as the 2025 event peaks despite moonlight.

Perseid meteor shower dazzles under bright moon

The Perseid meteor shower peaked on Aug 12 and 13 as Earth crossed the dusty debris trail left by the comet Swift-Tuttle. A bright gibbous moon washed out many fainter streaks, but observers still saw a solid display with meteors lighting up the night.

Photographers around the world captured the show, with images featuring auroras, the Milky Way, and landscapes from Dorset, Yellowstone, Turkey, and Belgrade. The shower will remain active through Aug 23 at a much lower rate, giving stargazers another chance to glimpse the streaks.

The Perseids show how hobbyists and professionals turn a natural event into shared storytelling. Advances in cameras, longer exposures, and global networks let a single shower reach a worldwide audience. Yet light pollution and bright moonlight still color the experience and push photographers to push for better timing and technique.

Beyond the beauty, the images highlight a global community that values patience, timing, and place. They also remind us that dark skies matter and that access to them is uneven and worth protecting.

Highlights

The night leaves us with quiet wonder and a reminder that the sky remains open to all.